Chapter 9
Reinventing the Wheel
In hindsight my delivering what was essentially a thesis on the speech and language patterns of monsters, as a seven-year-old girl, went about as well as one would expect, which is to say nowhere.
Why is this might you ask? Simple, better and smarter people had already done this years ago. In fact, they showed me the documentation and methods used by others. Apparently, I was not the first, nor likely the last to come up with the idea of grinding out skill levels in polyglot Sneaking and other skills by staying within earshot of goblins. There were a few discrepancies that I noticed, first some of the syntaxes were wrong. Now this could either mean that the original observer didn’t recognize the nuance or that the language had drifted. Now if the language drifted due to this tribe being isolated from others, or if this is just the natural progression of the language that somehow goblins all over the world know the evolving language of their own is unknown. All I knew was that there was a change in dialect, which to my scientific mind caused my own synapses to fire rapidly with thoughts and possibilities.
With my initial discovery of the goblin language dismissed I almost felt like my entire time in the dungeon was a waste. Well, no, I will never think that, or allow myself to get into that mindset. It was perfect for what it was, an initial delve into a dungeon where I managed to not only survive but thrive. That to me is worth more than anything.
Of course, my trip did point out some of my weaknesses. First, I was very observable to people who had a high magical perception. In retrospect, this should have been obvious as I have the big five magic items. My only solution to this was to level my Latens Manifesta skill, or as the mages call it, hiding in plain sight. To that end I decide that I will start adding in going to street corners and practicing my spy craft.
That is another thing about Steampunk and the Steampunk setting, the espionage route. Everyone looking at getting one step ahead of everyone else. The number one way to do this, is of course through information, what better way to get information than from a blind informant that no one would expect. Of course, this is a plan for way down the line. Currently I am just trying to build myself up to be useful in that capacity. While I don’t like murdering things, I don’t necessarily have to in order to thrive in this world. All I need to do is fulfill a niche role that can’t easily be duplicated and boom, I’m golden.
Right now, my biggest limitation is the range of my perception, as was noted by the level 22 Ranger, my distance is trash. Of course, there must be some trade off in power offered by Angel’s Sight, but I’d dare say that my viewing distance is at most half, if not less in terms of distance. For my level I have an exceptionally high Perception Attribute, but I was not able to see the ranger until he not only called me out, but then came to me. That was unnerving, as it meant that others could watch me from a distance even without my being aware. There were skills that could help with this, but I didn’t want to run around getting more skills. Instead, I wanted to get to the 125-level skill cap for my skills and then move on. Yes, while I had the unbound Merit, there were still hard skill caps for skills. The average user had their skills cap at 100, while those with the unbound could get their skills all the way up to 125. This meant that I was close to my cap for three of my easier skills: Alertness, Magical Awareness, and Telekinesis.
However, I feel that those three would be too easy to level up and will likely increase at their own rate. So instead, I decide to focus on one of my lowest ranked skills, Latens Manifesta and my ability to steal information at a distance thanks to my personalized Unique skill Blind Eidetic Speed Reading. With that thought in mind I leave the Mage’s guild, walk around the outside of the building and place my back against the back of the guild while staring forward into the crowded bustling streets of the magic section. Obviously being so close to the Mage’s guild people assume the best magic items could be found in these shops. Sadly, people would be wrong, granted there were more magical items for sale here, but most of the items in these sections were generally lower quality than some of the truly beneficial items.
While items like the Toasting Knife, a knife with a heat enchantment that perfectly toasts a slice of bread when cut has its practical applications, it makes a terrible combat weapon, and the enchantment is so weak that it often needs to be recharged within a month. That said, toasted bread is toasted bread.
During this time, I focus on doing two main things. First, I focus on seeing the people and items that are being sold and their quality. The second thing I do is I read the open books from the mage’s guild. While 300 meters might not be enough to spot a Ranger who has visual on me, that is plenty of distance for me to view through a wall and read the books from the forbidden section.
Three people are in the restricted section all reading different books at the same time.
The art of spirit magic is as elusive as it is grand. To delve deeper into the arts of spirit magic, a brand of magic that traverses Light, Dark, and Neutral we must first understand the difference between the spirit and soul of an individual. The spirit is the energy of the soul and in fact often the only measurable component of a soul. The soul is as far as we can tell a constantly refilling sac. While studies have been made into the introduction of soul strengthening techniques to children, most found the practice to be unethical. I however have found a willing subject in the form of my daughter.
That was one book and one that immediately called out to me as I knew the longer, I stayed and shoulder surfed the contents of that book, the more I might be able to improve my own starting magic pool. While I was starting at Tier VII in potential that only meant I would be able to learn Tier VII spells, it said nothing about my starting mana pool that I could use to cast said spells, which is exactly what this book seemed to be stating.
Looking at the book I could see that it had a unique purple color to it, meaning it was magical and skill related. This meant that if I got my hands on the book, I might be able to gain a unique skill, just like the one I personally created. Of course, there were obvious drawbacks to this, if this was a forbidden skill, I might be forced to take it. This would be similar to the situation I had earlier with the Blasphemous Alchemy skill, but unlike that time when I was choosing to learn it and then stopped learning it, with this type of skill I wouldn’t be able to resist. Of course, I could always steal the book and sell it for 100 gold, or what would end up being less than 100 gold by the time I was done. No, for now I would just try to learn this skill by shoulder reading.
The other two books were also interesting, but for different reasons.
One elderly man with drooping shoulders had to be reading smut. At least this worlds equivalent of smut.
…Grabbing her in his arms, he activated his rocket pack and took off for his private airship in the sky. There they watched the world below them slowly drift away, forgetting their positions of power, as for the moment they were just man and woman desperate to get back their youth that they had lost…
And that was where I stopped with that one.
The third one was a book denoting computational equations of Nature Magic, showing how it followed the Fibonacci sequence. The book was great, other than it clearly had a base number wrong which then threw off the rest of the spell book.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Of course, looking at the book I almost wondered if that was done on purpose. Would purposefully changing a known true variable make a book unreadable? This book was in the restricted section, but it clearly had a lot of good details, just that one number was off. Even the others were correct, meaning that again it was either done on purpose, an editing note, or maybe if I changed it, I could make the book have power.
I was curious, but for now I just decided to book read, while hiding in plain sight.
While I focused on reading, I also tried to keep my conscious aware of my surroundings. I noticed a team of children pickpockets running around, doing the old bump and pluck, or whatever it is called. Basically, on kid runs out in front of a group of people trying to avoid bullies.
“Come back here!”
“I’ll get you!”
The chasing kids scream. Thud. The first kid runs into a person then drops to the ground in that quick exchange they stole a coin purse and turning back to the charging kids look visibly frightened. Of course, it is all bad acting, the kids show no signs of anger or true fear, but they are a pack. Then the boy runs down a side alley being chased by the gaggle of kids. By the time anyone realizes something is amiss they call the guards to catch the four larger chasing kids. All of whom made sure to touch several people, including the rich mark.
None of the kids have the purse, as that is still with the original child the one who was too frightened to do much of anything.
I of course see this initial exchange, but then I also see the way independent observers are slowly moving in, the Pinkertons, or the fairgrounds’ personal police.
These are of course independent from the city guards who the citizens call for help initially. All so cloak and dagger, I love it.
The kids of course learn to stagger their approach, waiting two hours.
During the two hours between shows I realize a few things. First, I read a lot faster than the three mages in the restricted section. Sadly, they all go so slowly that I have even kept up with the smut novel. Don’t judge, it gets good, well once they focus on the science used to enchant items. Then of course there is gratuitous sex for no reason, then back to something of interest, then some more sex. A plot reveal where they have to sex their way out… well maybe not the last part but come on people. There can be more to stories than gratuitous sex scenes.
I am so preoccupied with the three books that I almost miss the moment when the group of pickpocketing kids reappears. Fortunately, I get a sense of the four Pinkertons moving as one. That is my only indication that something is about to happen.
A small boy that appears to be a bit nervous stumble nearby. I can just tell that he is at odds with what he is about to do. I wonder for a moment what he is going to do, then I catch the brief magical outline of something around his neck. While he could be an Adventurer, I am guessing with his weak frame and constitution that he is part of the Thieves guild. At least he is trying to be part of the thieves guild.
But he is too new, too untrained and those other kids have already got the guards riled up.
“Hey come here.” A voice calls out to the kid.
It takes me a minute before I realize it is my own voice. Yes, apparently, I am calling out to this random thief.
“Me?” He asks pointing to himself in what is clearly a real-world gesture.
“Yeah, come here.” I say, gesturing for him to come over. Fortunately, he was not part of the other group that the Pinkertons are clearly watching.
“Okay.” He says a bit hesitantly. “Can I help you?”
“You’re a regressor right?”
His posture stiffens at that, and I can tell that I have hit the nail on the head with that.
“What how did you?”
“Relax, the fact that you can hear the word and I can say it is a way to show we are both regressors. Think of it as the unofficial handshake.” I explain.
“Okay, but why…” The boy asks.
Whistle!
Several loud whistles ring out as all four Pinkerton guards who had been hiding as citizens move in to capture the gaggle of kids.
“Why did I call you over here, to keep you from getting caught?” I say, a slight smirk forming on my lips.
“How did you know?”
I pause, “how did I know what?”
“How did you know that they were going to make a move?” He asks, then his eyes go wide as I can see his heartbeat start to spike as blood flows quickly in his neck.
“You’re her. The…the ghost…” He said, somewhat excitedly.
“What? How did you…”
“I saw you. Well, everyone saw you. What you did was legendary. Taking down a behemoth, taking down a sky island. Then joining all five guilds, only to go into a dungeon for months at a time.”
I pause, “you know all that?”
“Yeah, I watched you for my last few months of chemo. When it was clear I wouldn’t make it, I opted to go the child route, same as you.”
I shake my head. “Being a child is not all its cracked up to be.”
“Tell me about it. My Dexterity is now five and I can barely walk without getting into trouble.” The boy says.
“Well until you get your Dexterity above ten, I would recommend not doing what you were trying to do.” I admit.
“I know, I know. The only problem is I don’t have enough skills to justify getting more training from the guild. But I can’t just go about without any skills to grind.” He admits.
I nod.
“Have you gotten the Athletics skill yet?”
“What? That’s actually a skill?” the boy asks.
“Wait, before this goes any further, what is your name?”
“Oh, I’m Roth.” He said, holding out his hand.
I just look at the hand and tilt my head at it. I grew up through multiple pandemics, I don’t touch hands.
“Oh, sorry, that might be a bit too forward.” He said, then awkwardly lowered his hand.
Silence.
“So any advice?”
“Yeah, run around be a kid. Do kid things, climb, tumble. The more you do, the more skills you will unlock and the more you will be able to improve your Attributes. Since you don’t have to worry about food or water do extra things, have fun.”
“Right.” He said, nodding to himself.
There was an awkward pause.
Then finally he asked, “What are you doing here?”
I just shook my head. “Nope, none of that.”
“Are you working on more skills?” He asked.
“Clearly.”
At that he nodded to himself. “Mind if I join you?”
“Look Roth, I am trying to work on my Latens Manifesta, hiding in plain sight. I can’t exactly do that, with you drawing attention to me.” I respond, somewhat coldly.
“Right.” He said, nodding to himself, before finally getting the hint. “Well, thanks for the assist and all.” He said gesturing to the Pinkertons who were taking away the gaggle of kids.
I nod. “Nice meeting you Roth.”
“Nice meeting you too, Ghost.” He says, as he leaves.
The minute he turns his back to me, I activate my Sneaking skill and hide. I don’t really move; I just change my whole presence in the area.
He turns back and scans back and forth, only to dismiss my appearance every time. I don’t know if that will go towards improving Sneaking or Latens Manifesta, or both, but I take it for the reprieve it is.
I also realize that while I am not making any money from my streams, others likely are. In particular, I can tell that this boy is likely not the only person who would choose the child flaw. While I felt bad for effectively encouraging people to go to an early grave, this is my retirement, this is what I want to do with my final few years of existence.
Though if people are watching me, then I will have to be extra secretive with what I am planning. Currently no one knows my master plans to be a thief. Not much point in being a thief, if everyone knows you are one. Also, I must assume that most all regressors will know about my two traits. Meaning that if I want to get away with something, then I must be extra careful. This means that I might need to work with weapons of some kind, if only to have a failsafe in place, in case things go sideways.
One thing I have found is that in this world, things always go sideways, if only for ratings and attention. In a way this is a good thing, as it means the longer that we keep drawing in ratings, the longer the servers will keep running, meaning we can theoretically have an infinite life in here, if we are capable of such a feat.
With the knowledge that people are watching me, I make a mental note to be boring. Even more boring that I have been thus far. Aside from my initial day of taking out a Behemoth and a nest of Stone dragons, I have been relatively benign. I intend to keep it that way.
For now though, I am going to plan a heist of my own. There are a number of books in the restricted section that all but glow with power. I intend to get my hands on them.
There is one that all but glitters with a deep ultraviolet light. I can see multiple layers of warded protections keeping the book safe from prying eyes and hands. That is the book that I would want to get my hands on, if at all possible.
But that is a quest for another day.
For now, I will learn to hide in plain sight and get my skills up to their maximum Unbound level cap. I have plenty of time to learn to plan a heist within the mage’s guild. I also realize that if things go poorly, then I will likely need to leave the city. Unfortunately, having to leave now would put my plans at risk. While I could likely go to the Underdark, that might be a death sentence given my Shade Touched royalty status. I can only imagine having to avoid daggers in the night from Dark Elven rangers who would track me down and slaughter me on sight, to keep their connection to the throne intact. No, I wanted no part of the Underdark, at least not for now.
For now though, I will continue to read forbidden books and gain forbidden knowledge. Even from the smut filled book there are some lessons on how to enchant woven throughout the pages. Come on Rahul, take her back to your lab and…
I shake my head, I think I might be enjoying that story more than the others. At least that one attempts to explain the mechanics in a simple easier to understand way. Though I am serious about trying to fix the logic of the Nature book and see if that will change anything about the lacking magical properties of the pages.
According to master enchanter Rahul, I would need to rewrite the equation while infusing mana into my strokes. Yes, they used the word strokes, even now I am doing it, blah that is terrible.
Anyways, only five years and eight months left until I can start to starve to death. Time to get every ounce of energy out of this time as I can.